You asked, we answered
Have a question about a service in Vaughan? Want to know more about a City program? The Service Vaughan team is standing by ready to respond to your inquiries. The City of Vaughan’s contact centre can be reached by phone at 905-832-2281 (toll free at 1-844-832-2112), email at service@vaughan.ca, online at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan or in person at Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.).
Every month, the City releases a series called ‘You Asked, We Answered,’ where common questions received and responded to by Service Vaughan are highlighted.
Below are the top five inquiries from January:
1. Where do I request winter maintenance on my street or sidewalk?
You can request winter maintenance, like snowplowing on your street, a sidewalk or walkway, through Service Vaughan’s online portal under ‘Winter Maintenance’. Enter your address or drop a pin on the map to submit a request and crews will respond in priority sequence.
To report a winter-related municipal emergency or problem that requires immediate attention – such as an icy road or sidewalk, or icy crosswalk in a school zone – call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
2. How can I report a sick, injured or dead animal?
As recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada, members of the public should not handle sick, injured or dead wild birds or other wildlife, as they may be infected with diseases that can spread to humans.
If you see a sick, injured or dead wild animal, report it to Vaughan Animal Services as soon as possible by:
- calling 905-832-2281 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- emailing animal.services@vaughan.ca.
If you’re calling after hours, dial 905-832-2281 and press “0” to reach the after-hours dispatch team. Officers are available 24-7 to respond to calls about sick or injured wildlife.
For more information, visit vaughan.ca/AnimalServices.
3. How can I sign up to become a Vaughan Fitness member?
Members have unlimited access to fitness and aquafitness classes at any of our six convenient Vaughan Fitness locations along with free access to recreational swimming, skating, shinny hockey, and sports at any Vaughan community centre.
Other amenities like squash courts, saunas and indoor tracks are included, and add-on services such as personal or group training, and a consultation with an in-house nutrition specialist are available.
Flexible membership plans and payment options are available, along with family discounts, membership renewal and referral incentives.
When you join with a three-month or annual membership, you get a free fitness consultation and program designed to align with your fitness goals. Refer to the Vaughan Fitness Membership Brochure (PDF) or Membership Policies (PDF) for more information, or visit vaughan.ca/fitness.
To purchase a membership, create or log in to your vaughan.perfectmind.com account and select ‘Memberships’. Student fitness memberships are not available online as proof of student ID is required upon purchase. To purchase a student fitness membership, complete a Vaughan Fitness Student Membership Application (PDF) and bring the form to your local community centre to process the membership. Signed parental consent is mandatory for youth aged 13 to 17 years old.
If you require assistance creating an online PerfectMind registration account, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281, email rec@vaughan.ca or watch this short informational video.
4. How do I set out my waste in the winter?
When it snows, clear a space at the curb to set waste back approximately one metre from the curb on the right-hand side of the driveway (when facing the home) where possible. Bins and bags should never be buried in snow or placed on top of or behind snowbanks. This ensures crews can collect your materials safely and gives plows enough room to clear snow efficiently in residential areas.
Remember to place all items curbside by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Staff will not return for materials set out late. Pickup times may be impacted by winter weather.
If the temperature outside is low, some materials may freeze inside your bins and adhere to the interior. Items that do not fall out when waste collectors tip the bin will be left inside the bin. Crews cannot return for bins that were not fully emptied due to freezing. To help prevent your materials from freezing, place your bins curbside in the morning by 7 a.m. instead of leaving them outside overnight.
To learn more about waste collection in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/waste.
5. Is on-street parking allowed in Vaughan?
By-laws are put in place to ensure a safe and orderly community for all who live, work and play in Vaughan. Unless otherwise signed or prohibited by the Parking By-law 064-2019 (PDF), on-street parking is allowed on any street in Vaughan for up to three hours without a permit between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. On-street parking is not allowed between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., unless the vehicle has a valid permit for that date, time and location. Please note, during winter snow events, parking permits are not valid.
During the winter, don’t park cars on the street while snowplows are out to help the City clear streets properly and safely. Remember, as outlined in the City’s Parking By-law 064-2019 (PDF), on-street parking that interferes with snow-clearing operations is prohibited. Vehicles found in violation may be subject to a $85 fine or towed at the owner’s expense.
The Parking By-law is enforced 24-7, all year long. Enforcement officers patrol the city issuing tickets for parking violations. York Regional Police may also enforce parking regulations.
Parking permit applications are available online at any time. Permits are electronic and do not need to be printed or displayed. Permits are non-transferable between licence plate numbers. Unused permit dates cannot be cancelled and reissued later if the dates have already passed.
For more information about parking in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/parking.
If you have questions about a City matter, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca.
